South Carolina Biomass Council Newshttp://www.scbiomass.org/
South Carolina Biomass Council blog postsSouth Carolina Biomass CouncilWild Apricot - membership management software and moreenWed, 20 Mar 2019 17:37:16 GMTWed, 20 Mar 2019 17:37:16 GMTWed, 10 Oct 2018 14:40:29 GMT2018 South Carolina Biomass Project and Advocate of the Year<p>We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 Biomass Awards:</p>
<p><br></p>
<p align="left"><u>Advocate of the Year</u></p>
<p align="left"><em>Tim Adams</em></p>
<p align="left"><em>SC Forestry Service</em></p>
<p align="left">Citation: In recognition of exceptional service to South Carolina as an outstanding steward of its forestry and biomass resources.</p>
<p align="left"><br></p>
<p align="left"><u>Project of the Year</u></p>
<p align="left"><em>Green Energy Biofuel</em></p>
<p align="left"><em>Warrenville, SC</em></p>
<p align="left">Citation: In recognition of its investment and revitalization of an idle 40 million gallon per year (MMgy) biodiesel facility located in Warrenville, SC and their decade long investment in SC's biofuel economy.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>The awards will be conferred on Thursday, November 15. Additional details and registration for the event can be found at www.scbiomass.org/events</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/6715945
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/6715945Elise FoxFri, 20 Jan 2017 13:49:41 GMTSC Biomass Council Participates in SC Energy Plan<p><font style="font-size: 16px;"><font face="Georgia">In 2016, the SC Energy Office embarked on its ambitious plan to develop a new Energy Plan for the State of South Carolina.&nbsp; The SCBC is thankful for the opportunity to participate in the effort and we made four recommendations to the Renewables Subcommittee, three of which were accepted and will be incorporated into the plan, pending approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission. &nbsp;The Energy Plan is currently in final preparation stages and will hopefully be submitted to the PURC for approval in February. &nbsp;We will keep you posted on the outcome of our recommendations.&nbsp; Further information on the Energy Plan can be found at: <a href="http://www.energy.sc.gov/node/2331?pc=2332">http://www.energy.sc.gov/node/2331?pc=2332</a>. &nbsp;Our recommendations accepted for consideration by the Renewables Subcommittee were as follows:</font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong><font>1.<font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></font></strong> <strong><font>Develop a Plan for Acceptable Use of Beneficial Waste-to-Energy in South Carolina</font></strong></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong><font>Challenge:</font></strong><font>&nbsp; Problematic wastes streams that cannot be recycled exist throughout the state which could be utilized for waste-to-energy, rather than landfilling. This requires defining preferred pathways for these waste streams which are acceptable from the environmental standpoint, then providing encouragement or incentive to develop.</font></font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong><font>Background:</font></strong> <font>There are significant waste streams (often biomass-based) which could be funneled to a beneficial use by using a waste-to-energy process.&nbsp; Sometimes, this can involve a commonly used waste product such as waste wood from land-clearing or timbering which has no market locally in a particular region due to the economic limitation of freight costs.&nbsp; At other times, this could be a state-wide need for a beneficial waste use.</font></font></p>
<p><font><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia">The South Carolina Department of Commerce has a committee named RMDAC (Recycling Market Development Advisory Council) which is tasked with finding markets for recycled materials, and could help with determining the waste stream availability. DHEC also has responsibility for waste accounting and supervision in the state, as well as for air and water quality when the waste is processed. The SC Energy Office monitors energy use and production in the state. Among these entities, the knowledge and responsibility could be harnessed to develop best practices for utilizing these wastes, and then incentivizing the preferred pathways.</font></font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong><font>Recommended Approach:</font></strong> <font>Establish a task force, under the guidance of RMDAC and including other related stakeholders, to identify the economically significant waste streams that are unutilized in the state. Prioritize developing beneficial uses for the waste streams, based on economic and environmental benefit. Make recommendations for incentives that could result in creation of new waste-to-energy projects to meet this need. Create marketing assistance (exchanges, or buyer-seller lists and maps) for waste streams when this would be helpful.</font></font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong><font>Timeframe:</font></strong> <font>&nbsp;Begin upon approval, and continue with yearly reassessments of relevant changes.</font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>2.<font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></strong> <strong>Increasing the utilization of forestry byproducts, tree trimmings, and waste wood</strong></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Challenge:</strong>&nbsp; South Carolina’s forestry industry is already a major economic contributor to the state and there are forestry byproducts and residuals that could add incremental revenues to landowners and forest products processers if nearby markets were available. Additionally, tree trimmings and other forms of wood waste can be diverted from landfills for beneficial use as fuel wood.&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Background:</strong> More nuclear generation will be incorporated in South Carolina’s electric generation mix (with no load-following capability), along with more solar generation at utility-scale and behind the meter in homes and businesses. As restrictions on coal or the desire to reduce coal use increase, the need for load-following and peaking units becomes more important. Only natural gas, hydro, biomass, and energy storage are left as dispatchable generating resources that can adjust with load variation.&nbsp; The current price of natural gas generation drives utilities to run these units as base-load so that there is less ability to use them for peaking or load-follow capacity. There is very limited ability to expand hydro generation.&nbsp; As a result of these constraints, the increased use of electric generation that uses waste wood could be beneficial to the utilities. Waste wood as a fuel also provides emission benefits and economic benefits to the state, especially in the rural economy. Forestry jobs would increase, and fuel dollars would be paid to in-state landowners instead of exported to coal or natural gas producing states. Less transport would be required since the wood is available locally in South Carolina.</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Recommended Approach:</strong> The South Carolina Forestry Commission monitors the forestry products markets and could provide fuel wood studies to determine where sufficient forestry residuals, forestry byproducts, urban wood waste and suitable tree/yard trimmings exist for wood-fueled generating station sites. A task force of state government, state environmental groups and industry could prepare recommendations to legislators to develop additional in-state electric generation from this resource ensuring no conversion of natural forests.</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Timeframe:</strong>&nbsp; Begin upon approval.</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>3.<font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></strong> <strong>Develop State Support and Implementation of Purposely Grown Crops for Biofuels and Bioenergy</strong></font></li>
</ul>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Challenge:</strong>&nbsp; Purposely grown crops produced for biofuels and bioenergy can serve a significant role in meeting the State’s liquid and solid fuel energy needs.&nbsp; The challenge will be to identify which biomass crops will be most sustainable for production in South Carolina and to determine the most profitable means to harvest, transport, and store the biomass while minimizing its Carbon footprint. It will be necessary for the costs associated with biomass crops to be competitive with the costs associated with fossil fuels.</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Background:</strong> Biomass produced in South Carolina represents significant economic opportunities for the State’s rural landowners and farmers by creating jobs and tax revenues in the agricultural and forestry sector, the current largest industries in the State. Bioenergy crops are generally more drought tolerant and require fewer inputs to produce than traditional food crops, and are well suited for production by limited resource farmers.&nbsp; They are more adapted for production on the State’s many marginal, sandy soils and are safer for the environment than most food crops.&nbsp; Current research emphasis on adding bio-product benefits to biomass crops will also result in another revenue stream to farmers and landowners.&nbsp; Several of the biomass crops offer environmental services such as improving soil quality, water quality, and wildlife habitat, compared to traditional agriculture and forestry land uses.&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Recommended Approach:</strong> Work with Clemson University to develop recommendations and a plan for the use of biomass crops, such as purposely grown trees, perennial grasses, annual sorghum crops, and to a lesser extent food crop residues to be utilized to meet South Carolina energy needs, and contribute to the energy independence and the economy of South Carolina.</font></p>
<p><font style="font-size: 16px;" face="Georgia"><strong>Timeframe:</strong>&nbsp; Begin upon approval</font></p>
<p><br></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/4558776
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/4558776Elise FoxWed, 20 Jan 2016 14:55:22 GMTNew and outgoing SCBC Board Members<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">From former Chair, Liz Kress:</font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">South Carolina's gets some of its distinctive beauty from its forests. I have learned firsthand that forests are a "Use it or lose it" resource. You don't have to ride very far to see trees disappearing to development.&nbsp; Biomass use can provide a little more income for the landowner so that we can preserve more of this beauty.</font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">Thanks very much to the outgoing Board members, Erika Myers and Dwight Stewart, as well as our other members, who have helped maintain a vision for the SCBC this year. It has been a year of significance in energy policy, and the SCBC was ready to help guide the policy development so that it was right for South Carolina. If each of you saw what I saw this past year, you would realize what a valuable organization this is.&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">I also want to welcome our two new board members, Tom French and Crad Jaynes, who each bring additional strengths to the organization and will continue to move forward the mission of the SCBC. We also welcome back Elise Fox who served an abbreviated term and was willing to come back for another full-term. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair. It was a pleasure and an honor.</font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">Sincerely,&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">Liz Kress</font></p>
<p><br></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3770558
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3770558Erika MyersTue, 12 Jan 2016 17:51:03 GMTSC Woody Biomass Resources at Record Levels<p>SCBC member and SC Forestry Commission staffer, Tim Adams, provided a <a href="http://www.scbiomass.org/resources/Documents/Tim%20Adams%20Bioenergy%20Committe%20Presentation.pdf" target="_blank">presentation</a> to a group of SCBC members and other biomass stakeholders on January 6. The presentation provided&nbsp;an overview of wood resources within South Carolina.&nbsp;In addition to provided an overview of the components of a State Biomass Plan, he also discussed existing wood resources and examples of woody biomass uses to date. According to studies by the Forestry Commission, timberland acreage is stable while wood volume is increasing. Further, SC forests contain more wood than ever recorded and will continue to grow in the near future.</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764840
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764840Erika MyersFri, 11 Dec 2015 17:27:24 GMTSCBC Board Nominations<p><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The&nbsp;SCBC&nbsp;Board of Directors has three board nominees to offer to you for 2016. The nominees are Tom French (former Chair of&nbsp;SCBC and retired from the Savannah River National Laboratory), Crad Jaynes (President and CEO of SC Timber Producers Association), and Elise Fox (Savannah River National Laboratory).&nbsp;</font><font style="font-size: 13px;" face="Arial, sans-serif">Note: Elise was&nbsp;elected&nbsp;to fill an unexpired term last year, and has agreed to be nominated to fill a full 3-year term of her own.</font></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">It is also important to ask for board nominees from the membership<strong>. If there are additional nominees that you wish to submit for the ballot, please respond to</strong> <u><a href="mailto:eakress@santeecooper.com"><font color="#1155CC">eakress@santeecooper.com</font></a></u>&nbsp;<strong>by December 21, 2015.</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">Members will receive an&nbsp;election&nbsp;ballot with a biography of the nominees by Dec 23, and votes will be collected through January 6.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">The Board is planning to develop Membership and Communications committees in 2016 to strengthen the&nbsp;SCBC, and as always would appreciate your input on ways to improve our organization.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><br></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764740
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764740Erika MyersTue, 24 Nov 2015 17:20:31 GMTSCBC Quarterly Meeting Update & Notes<p>During the fourth quarterly meeting on November 17, 2015 the SC Biomass Council met at Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, SC.&nbsp; During a presentation titled, “Natural resources management at the Savannah River Site” was given by Dr. Andy Horcher of the U.S Forestry Service.&nbsp; He discussed how the U.S. Forestry Service manages nearly 300 square miles of woodlands on the SRS.&nbsp; Following his presentation, Ken Chacey, Plant Manager of the <a href="http://www.scbiomass.org/resources/Documents/SCBC%20Quarterly%20Meeting%20November%202015.ppt" target="_blank">Ameresco Biomass Co-Generation facility</a>, provided an overview of plant construction and management.&nbsp; The 25 attendees then boarded a bus to the co-gen facility.&nbsp; The walking tour included the control room, water treatment facility, feedstock storage, and boiler tours.</p>
<p><br></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764720
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3764720Erika MyersTue, 10 Nov 2015 14:56:54 GMTMake Your Voice Heard at DHEC Clean Power Plan Forums<p>SCBC representatives will be attending four upcoming public forums on the Clean Power Plan (CPP) between November and December in the Pee Dee, Upstate, Midlands and Lowcountry. These public engagement sessions will provide information on the final CPP rule and future opportunities.&nbsp;</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>We encourage all of our members and bioenergy stakeholders to attend and represent your interests in biomass during these forums. For more details about the locations, dates, and times of these sessions please go to the <a href="http://www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Air/cleanpower/" target="_blank">SC Clean Power Plan</a> home page.</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3626409
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3626409Erika MyersWed, 21 Oct 2015 13:17:52 GMTHappy National Bioenergy Day!<p>Today is a day of learning and education for both supporters and newcomers to biomass energy. The SCBC would like to thank and recognize all of the industry representatives, utilities, educational organizations, and government entities who have tirelessly worked to promote bioenergy in South Carolina. We would also like to give a big THANK YOU to our members, corporate sponsors, and stakeholders who have helped the SCBC since our inception in 2007. It has been a great eight years and we look forward to another eight years.&nbsp;</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>For anyone interested in learning more about bioenergy, a series of <a href="http://bioenergyday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/webinar-a-ton-flyer.pdf" target="_blank">free bioenergy webinars</a> hosted by the WA State University Extension is available this week. Topics include:&nbsp;</p>
<p>Sustainable biofuel production in the Southeastern US</p>
<p>Developing the US bioeconomy in a global context</p>
<p>Life cycle assessment of biojet fuel</p>
<p>And much more!</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>It is also not too late to sign up for our biomass tour at the Savannah River Site! Check out our <a href="http://www.scbiomass.org/" target="_blank">events page</a> for more information.&nbsp;</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3593270
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3593270Erika MyersThu, 01 Oct 2015 16:38:38 GMTGet Excited about National Bioenergy Day on October 21st!This month officially kicks off the third annual National Bioenergy Day on October 21st. Participating organizations will open their doors to communities to demonstrate the benefits of bioenergy.&nbsp;
<p><br></p>
<p>Although there are no organized events this year in South Carolina, plenty of tours are available in North Carolina and other states around the Southeast. Alternatively, you can wait until our big bioenergy tour event at the Savannah River Site in November. If you have not signed up, but want to attend, please do so ASAP.&nbsp;</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>If you are interested in National Bioenergy Day activities, and would like to learn more, go to&nbsp;http://bioenergyday.com/.&nbsp;</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3555528
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3555528Erika MyersThu, 10 Sep 2015 01:05:02 GMTDHEC Informs SCBC Members about Biomass and the Clean Power PlanToday, Myra Reese and Henry Porter from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) provided presentations to an audience of approximately 40 SC Biomass Council members and guests about the implications of the proposed EPA Clean Power Plan and biomass resources in the state. Key takeaways from the presentations included:
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>Uncertainties about what types of biomass could be included as part of the state implementation plan (SIP); additional biomass definitions and eligible resources must be provided by the EPA;&nbsp;</li>
<li>DHEC has limited understanding of biomass resource availability in SC and could use assistance from the biomass community to help inform SIP proposals; and</li>
<li>Clean Energy Incentives will be in place in 2020 and 2021 to encourage early investments in renewable energy, including potentially biomass energy.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<div>
For more information, please download a copy of the presentation slide deck from <a href="http://www.scbiomass.org/Resources/Documents/Myra%20Reece%20SCBC%20mtg%20Sept%209%202015%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">Myra Reese</a> and <a href="http://www.scbiomass.org/Resources/Documents/DHEC_Henry%20Porter_Biomass%20Council%20Presentation.pdf" target="_blank">Henry Porter</a>. For additional questions, contact information for both DHEC staff are included in the links.
</div>
<p></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3518304
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3518304Erika MyersTue, 08 Sep 2015 17:59:49 GMTThe Clean Power Plan and Biomass: Opportunities in South Carolina<p>The SC Biomass Council just released a new fact sheet and report on Combined Heat and Power opportunities for South Carolina. The report, developed for the SCBC by the DOE Southeast CHP Technical Assistance Partnership, documents nearly 4,000 MW of possible additional CHP resources in SC, much of which could be accomplished through renewable resources, such as biomass energy. Check out the resources section to download a copy of the report and fact sheet today!</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3516018
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3516018Erika MyersTue, 25 Aug 2015 15:36:18 GMTThe controversy surrounding biomass carbon accounting<p>A number of scientists and bioenergy industry advocates have recently voiced concerns around controversial carbon accounting methodologies for the forest biomass sector. Politics seem to be undermining existing EPA policies, numerous technical studies, states, and other stakeholders on the definition of biogenic carbon dioxide. Forest2Markets recently published a blog titled "<a href="http://blog.forest2market.com/carbon-neutrality-forest-biomass?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=email" target="_blank">The Carbon Neutrality of Forest Biomass</a>" that is worth a read.</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3495544
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3495544Erika MyersTue, 02 Jun 2015 21:03:50 GMTUSDA announces additional funding for Biomass Crop Assistance Program<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $11.5 million in federal incentives will&nbsp;be available beginning&nbsp;this summer for farmers and forest landowners growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The funding provided through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides assistance to establish and maintain energy crops or those who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a qualified energy facility. For more information, see the <a href="http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&amp;subject=landing&amp;topic=ner&amp;newstype=newsrel&amp;type=detail&amp;item=nr_20140520_rel_0091.html">USDA announcement</a> and the <a href="http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/12004/usda-announces-restart-of-bcap">Biomass Magazine</a> article.</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3369191
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3369191Erika MyersTue, 02 Jun 2015 20:55:59 GMTSavannah River Site to host largest biomass-cogeneration plant in the nation<p>&nbsp;</p>In&nbsp;May&nbsp;2015, Ameresco broke ground on Phase II of the existing biomass-cogeneration facility at the Savannah River Site, which will make it the largest plant of its kind in the nation. Phase II will increase steam production and green electricity - approximately 3-4 megawatts (MW)&nbsp;for a total of 23-24 MW. Construction is expected to begin in June 2014 and the plant commissioned in spring 2016. Additional information may be found in the <a href="http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20150512/AIK0101/150519879">Aiken Standard</a>.http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3369187
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3369187Erika MyersMon, 23 Feb 2015 17:49:20 GMTFrederick: Fuel for thought: Why ethanol should help power South Carolina<h1 class="pageTitle"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 39px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.thestate.com/2015/02/20/3998175_frederick-fuel-for-thought-why.html?rh=1" target="_blank">Frederick: Fuel for thought: Why ethanol should help power South Carolina</a></span></h1>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></p>
<p class="byline" style="padding-bottom: 5px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.25em; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">BY JIM FREDERICK</p>
<p class="credit_posted_modified" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.25em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="creditline" style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Guest Columnist</span><span class="grd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">February 20, 2015</span></p>
<p><span class="dateline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase;"><br></span></p><span class="dateline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase;">COLUMBIA, SC</span>&nbsp;— There are no oil wells in South Carolina. Nor are there any coal mines. So if we don’t want to reduce our energy dependence, we have to rely on hydroelectricity and wind and solar power and — imagine this — growing our own energy.
<p></p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Biofuels can be an important piece of South Carolina’s energy future. But that won’t happen as long as critics obscure the facts to undermine public support. Bad information about the costs and worth of biofuels leads to bad decision-making that can impact the lives of South Carolinians who buy fuel to power their cars, their homes and their businesses. It’s also bad for our farmers, the environment and, in the long run, our food security.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Biofuels are made from plants grown for fuel, such as those raised for making ethanol, or else they are leftovers from crop and timber harvests. Yet even as technology advances are bringing down the costs and streamlining the process of converting plants into energy, biofuel is being downplayed, even dismissed, by critics. Recently, the World Resources Institute issued a report that says federal and state governments are misguided in their support for biofuels as an alternative energy source. As evidence, it reports that ethanol has replaced less than 10 percent of the gasoline consumed in the United States and says that the ethanol production has removed a food source for humans and livestock. Both claims are misleading.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By law, ethanol can be mixed with gasoline only up to a 10 percent blend (soon to be increased to 15 percent for newer cars). And there are no laws mandating that gasoline must be mixed with ethanol. Thus, it stands to reason that the maximum amount of gasoline that could be replaced with ethanol would be less than 10 percent. This is a good first step.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As for blaming high food prices on ethanol, while about 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop is grown to produce biofuels, only about a third of that amount is actually converted to ethanol. The rest ends up as a high-value feed for livestock and as carbon dioxide, which can be used for industrial purposes, such as carbonation for soft drinks. Clearly, a much smaller portion of the nation’s corn crop is converted to biofuels than critics would have us believe.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Critics also say using corn for ethanol increases the price of corn and thus the cost of food. In fact, the corn itself accounts for less than a fifth of the cost of food sold at grocery stores and restaurants. Most of the cost is due to the processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, retailing and marketing of the food product. Increasing biofuel production actually has the potential to lower food costs by providing less expensive energy for processing and distributing food.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Without the biofuel market for corn, there would be an oversupply that would drive corn prices down. The price that farmers are receiving for corn — about $3.60 per bushel as of this writing — is about half what it was two years ago and below the level the federal government has determined needed by farmers to profitably produce the crop.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Almost all professionals in the biofuel industry realize that using more corn to make biofuels will not be sustainable. Most agree making ethanol from vegetative material makes more economic and environmental sense than using corn grain. If done correctly, growing biofuel crops can also be better for the environment than producing many of our traditional crops.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Potential plant material for making biofuels includes leaves and stalks left on the ground after harvesting grain crops, waste wood from harvesting trees or from the lumber mills, or special trees and native grasses grown on marginal soils not suitable for food-crop production. Hence, there will not be widespread production of biofuel crops on fertile food-crop land, as critics contend. There are a lot of opportunities on the horizon with new biofuel technologies and production systems.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">South Carolina’s future energy portfolio should be diverse to include all the opportunities associated with solar, biomass, offshore wind, water and nuclear energies. Diversity is a good strategy for spreading out risks by not depending on a single solution. Becoming an energy-wise state begins with having the facts that will guide — not misguide — us.</p>
<p class="shirttail" style="margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; max-width: 620px !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dr. Frederick is a Clemson profession who has been researching food crop production for more than two decades and studying how to sustainably produce biofuel crops since 2007. He is stationed at Clemson’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence; contact him at jfrdrck@clemson.edu.</p>
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Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2015/02/20/3998175_frederick-fuel-for-thought-why.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
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<p><br></p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3232616
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3232616Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:48:46 GMTSC Biomass Companies Participate in USDA BCAP Program<p><i>EDF Renewable Energy's Pinelands and Council Energy among 36 biomass facilities in the U.S. to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).</i><br></p>
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<p>SCCEBA would like to recognize EDF Renewable Energy's Pinelands facilities in Dorchester and Allendale Counties and Orangeburg-based Council Energy for participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)<br>
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"BCAP is an essential program which will continue the growth of the biomass industry in South Carolina and across the United States" said Jim Poch, executive director of SCCEBA. "Companies such as EDF Renewable Energy and Council Energy are great assets to the counties in the I-95 Corridor of South Carolina. I hold the belief the I-95 Corridor could be a significant biomass and biofuel production hub and employer" he added.<br>
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A US Department of Agriculture new release stated, "Of the total $25 million per year authorized for BCAP, up to 50 percent ($12.5 million) is available each year to assist biomass owners with the cost of delivery of agricultural or forest residues for energy generation. Some BCAP payments will target the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and Bureau of Land Management public lands for renewable energy, which reduces the risk of forest fire."<br></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/07/0157.xml&amp;contentidonly=true" target="_blank">Click here to read the full article</a></p>
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<em style="color: rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">EDF Renewable Energy's Pinelands and Council Energy&nbsp;among 36 biomass facilities in the U.S. to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).</em>
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</div>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3066408
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3066408Mon, 21 Jul 2014 14:34:06 GMTBiogas and Renewables Trends – Fresh from California<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Thanks to some low airfares, I recently attended&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epa.gov/methane/agstar/news-events/events/conference14.html" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">AgSTAR's 2014 National Workshop</a>&nbsp;in San Diego, and also spent a day at&nbsp;<a href="http://biocyclerefor.com/" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">BioCycle's</a>&nbsp;related conference called REFOR14 West.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epa.gov/methane/agstar/index.html" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">AgSTAR</a>&nbsp;is the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epa.gov/" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">Environmental Protection Agency's</a>&nbsp;voluntary outreach and educational program that encourages the recovery and use of biogas (e.g. methane) collected from animal manure and other agricultural waste. The REFOR14 West conference focused on renewable energy from organics recycling.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Organics recycling has expanded to include recovering food scraps. This is often part of an effort where a city or business decides to attain zero-waste status. Some states, like Massachusetts, are running out of landfill space and have to find new ways to get rid of waste.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">My friends look askance at the composting container on my sink, but I learned to do this from my grandma and mom, who had farming in their families and always recycled nutrients for the soil. Now, the hot trend in organics recycling is to build an anaerobic digester and collect food scraps on a large scale. This technology is well-developed in Europe, where Germany has over 6,800 large scale digesters. Austria is next with 551, France has 468, Switzerland 459, and the Netherlands and Sweden each have over 200. The U.S. is early in implementing the technology, with around 1,700 digesters located at wastewater treatment plants and farms, only a fraction of which uses the gas to power production. This is where a utility can be a useful consumer of the gas by using it to drive an electric generator and produce renewable energy.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Santee Cooper already uses biogas at six landfills to produce electricity and has three anaerobic digester projects under contract. One of these, the&nbsp;<a href="http://genearthbioenergy.com/genearth-berkeley/" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">GenEarth facility in Berkeley County</a>, produces gas and 1.6-megawatts of electricity from wastewater sludge, grease-trap waste, and poultry processing-plant waste. It's roughly enough electricity to power 800 average-sized homes.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Additionally, there are many other benefits to digesters. The methane that is burned is an extremely potent greenhouse gas and accounts for 9 percent of the greenhouse gases the U.S. emits. Also, the digester byproducts are a high-quality mulch or animal bedding that is free of any pathogens. The process returns nutrients to the soil and removes odors from lagoons at animal farms.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Building digesters and using the methane is a proactive strategy for helping our country protect its lands and agricultural industry. Santee Cooper is doing its part to understand and use this new tool in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.santeecooper.com/committed-to-south-carolina/environmental-stewardship/renewable-energy.aspx" style="padding: 10px 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(122, 165, 43); line-height: 15pt; vertical-align: middle;">toolkit</a>.</p>
<p style="padding-bottom: 15px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By Elizabeth Kress, Santee Cooper</p>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3049574
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/3049574Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:57:03 GMTSantee Cooper Blog: Observing the Creation of a New IndustryBy Elizabeth Kress in Green Power<br>
Working in renewables involves searching for new, sustainable ways of producing electricity that use sources that are replenished by nature. Wind or solar are more straightforward choices for renewables, but biomass sometimes gets a little harder to define or explain. Is a landfill a sustainable source? Considering what's in a municipal solid waste landfill will generate methane gas for 40-odd years, it is a long term generating source from natural decomposition. Is it sustainable to combust wood to make electricity? If the wood can be re-grown or obtained as a byproduct of other processes, then it fits a sustainable model, especially for carbon-emission concerns. And it is especially helpful if transportation of the wood fuel is minimized by using local sources.
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Our contracts with EDF-Renewable Energy to buy electricity generated from wood waste are creating some new supplier channels in the wood markets. The EDF-RE plants in Dorchester and Allendale counties are smaller-sized operations (as woody biomass plants go), designed specifically for producing electricity. Having these on the smaller side makes it harder to achieve economies of scale, however the flip side is that there is less impact on the local forestry markets that already exist.
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Our foremost South Carolina Forestry Commission statistician, Tim Adams, says, "Biomass plants like the EDF-Renewable Energy plants near Harleyville and Allendale are easier to locate within a typical South Carolina woodbasket. Logging residues, understory thinnings and urban wood waste can be sourced from a 2-3 county area for one of these EDF-sized plants. It's conceivable that there could be a biomass plant in every county in South Carolina in a fully-developed biomass market."
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In the case of the EDF-RE plants, we are able to observe new suppliers and sources that are being created to meet a new local need. People start to figure out that there is a facility that uses wood waste or residues. At Santee Cooper, for example, our investment recovery department has been looking to reduce our waste streams, and realizes now there may be a use for scrap wood. Also, our tree trimming crews need a way to get rid of their wood; if there was just a way to efficiently collect it and make sure it is chopped or ground to the size EDF needs.
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The word "efficiently" covers a lot of details. Collecting, hauling and grinding or chipping take time and work, which costs money. Finding people who devise ways to do this efficiently is where a new industry is created.
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In the world of economics theory, everything is pretty straightforward. The supply price rises or drops to meet the demand and voilà – the market is in perfect balance. In the real world, this can involve new businesses opening, or old businesses changing what they do. Watching new business come out of the woodwork (pun intended) is fun to see!
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<a href="https://www.santeecooper.com/blog/authors/elizabeth-kress/2014/observing-the-creation-of-a-new-industry.aspx" target="_blank">Article courtesy of Santee Cooper's Blog</a>
</div>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1520098
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1520098Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:14:00 GMTStudy finds transatlantic pellet trade results in GHG reductionsBy Erin Voegele | February 28, 2014<br>
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A new study led by a researcher from the University of Georgia has determined that the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of a unit of electricity generated in the U.K. using imported wood pellets is at least 50 percent lower than the GHG intensity of grid electricity derived from fossil fuels. The work was led by Puneet Dwivedi, an assistant professor of sustainability sciences in the UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Madhu Khanna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Energy Biosciences Institute and Robert Bailis and Adrian Ghilardi with Yale University’s School of Forestry &amp; Environmental Studies also contributed to the study.<br>
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According to the study, the researchers determined relative GHG emissions savings for electricity generated in the U.K. using imported wood pellets under 930 different scenarios. The analysis considered three types of woody feedstocks, two forest management choices, 31 plantation rotation ages and five power plant capacities. Depending on the power plant capacity and the rotation age, the results found relative per unit GHG savings in the range of 50 percent to 68 percent.<br>
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The researchers note that existing studies have shown that GHG intensity of a unit of energy generated in Europe using pellets from the U.S. or Canada is roughly 65 percent to 80 percent lower than the GHG intensity of a unit grid of electricity. However, they point out that those studies have typically assumed the feedstocks for pellet production were sourced from either nearby forest for from a wood processing facility located at a fixed distance to the pellet plant. The researchers also stressed that existing studies have considered only one harvest cycle when determining GHG savings, which has raised concerns among environmentalists and others.<br>
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The new considers GHG emissions associated with seven supply chain steps, including feestock production, transportation of feedstock to the pellet plant, the manufacture of wood pellets, transportation to a U.S. seaport via rail, transatlantic shipment to Europe, transport to the European power plant via rail, and the burning of the pellets. According to the researchers, the GHG emissions associated with each step were summed up and divided by the total electricity generated at the power plant.<br>
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The results of the analysis determined that the relative GHG emission saves were only 2 percent higher for wood pellets manufactured from feedstock sourced from non-intensive rather than intensively managed forests. In addition, GHG emissions savings were almost similar no matter what the feedstock type was used. According to the information published in the study, the results of the analysis contradict the general belief that the use of wood pellets from 10 to 15 year old pine plantations in the southern U.S. do not provide GHG savings in Europe. Rather, GHG savings were found to be at least 50 percent, even at lower rotation ages.<br>
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The authors suggest that future research be directed to the impacts of additional forest management practices, changing climate, and solar carbon on GHG emissions savings. The study, titled “Potential greenhouse gas benefits of transatlantic wood pellet trade,” was published in the research journal Environmental Research Letters. <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/9/2/024007/article" target="_blank">A full copy of the study is available on the journal’s website.</a>
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<a href="http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/10071/study-finds-transatlantic-pellet-trade-results-in-ghg-reductions" target="_blank">Article courtesy of Biomass Magazine</a>
</div>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1514580
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1514580Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:12:42 GMTBiomass Around the Country: Spotlight South Carolina<i>SC Biomass Council recognized by Biomass Power Association for leadership in growing biomass energy generation industry.<img src="http://www.scbiomass.org/Resources/Pictures/Sonoco%20Biomass%20Boiler%20Dedication.jpg" title="" alt="" width="200" height="116" border="0" align="right" style="margin: 7px 7px 7px 7px;"></i>
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Over the past year, South Carolina has made a name for itself in the biomass industry. What previously was a small biomass presence has become a thriving industry, providing power for tens of thousands of South Carolina homes and businesses.<br>
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The most recent development is the opening of global packaging company Sonoco’s $75 million biomass boiler. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley attended the dedication ceremony for the new boiler, which replaces two aging coal boilers. “South Carolina is being called the fastest growing economy in the Southeast,” Haley said. “One of the reasons is because of innovative projects like Sonoco’s biomass boiler. Advancements like this help businesses grow and succeed, attract new customers and bring talent and high-paying jobs to the state.”<br>
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This follows the November 2013 opening of two 17.8-megawatt facilities by BPA member EDF. Located in Allendale and Dorchester Counties, the new facilities, also known as the Pinelands biomass project, created 250 construction jobs and 38 full-time positions. They will supply power for 15,000 homes through a 30-year power purchasing agreement with Santee Cooper, the local utility.<br>
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The new South Carolina biomass growth is due in part to the influence of South Carolina Biomass Council. With 250 members representing various aspects of biomass, the SCBC works cooperatively with state legislators, biomass producers and users, and other stakeholders to increase awareness and use of biomass energy. SCBC aims to help South Carolina use homegrown energy sources rather than importing the majority of its power.<br>
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Article courtesy of the <a href="http://www.usabiomass.org/" target="_blank">Biomass Power Association</a>
</div>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1495847
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1495847Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:57:47 GMTSC Biomass Council seeks nominations for Board of DirectorsThe SC Biomass Council is seeking nominations from its members to fill three Board of Directors positions.&nbsp;
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Nominations for the three Board positions are due to Larry Boyleston (<a href="mailto:larry.boyleston@scra.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">larry.boyleston@scra.org</a>), no later than November 22, 2013. Please submit all nominations to Larry via email. All nominations will be considered. Nominees are not required to be current SC Biomass Council members, but are required to become members if elected.
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Elections will take place shortly after November 22nd.
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Elected SC Biomass Council Board members are required to serve three year terms.
</div>http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1423748
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1423748Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:15:33 GMTEnergy industry leaders to share perspectives on biomass at summitOfficials from two South Carolina-based biomass firms, Arborgen and Encompass Biotech, will join representatives from Santee Cooper and SCRA for a panel discussion on biomass-the use of material such as wood chips, sorghum, or municipal waste as a renewable energy source.<br>
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The panel discussion is part of the 2013 SC Clean Energy Summit, taking place July 11, 2013, in Columbia. Clean energy-related companies, service providers, investors, and entrepreneurs, along with representatives of government and academia, will gather at the summit to explore a variety of clean energy topics.<br>
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The panel will be moderated by Larry Boyleston of SCRA and is being sponsored by Santee Cooper.<br>
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The following officials will serve as panelists:<br>
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<b>Jeff Wright, Arborgen</b><br>
Jeff Wright will discuss Arborgen's work developing purpose-grown trees for use as a source of biomass. Wright is recognized as a world leader in developing forest plantations for products such as pulp, paper, lumber, and bio-energy. He has managed such efforts in South Africa, Swaziland, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico and has consulted on plantations in more than 20 other countries.<br>
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<b>Bob Kodrzycki, Encompass Biotech</b><br>
Kodrzycki will discuss different models for biomass harvesting, energy production, and the potential effect of the political environment in the United States and European Union on the growth of the industry. Kodrzycki has 24 years of biotechnology experience, ranging from developing products to tailoring R&amp;D strategies to address market and regulatory environments.<br>
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<b>Liz Kress, Santee Cooper</b><br>
Kress will discuss the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of anaerobic digesters (which involve electricity generation using the methane gas that results when organic materials decompose in an environment that lacks oxygen). Santee Cooper has an anaerobic digestion facility at its Berkeley County landfill. Kress has been instrumental in increasing Santee Cooper's renewable generation, and has also been involved in feasibility work on offshore wind for South Carolina.<br>
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<b>About the 2013 SC Clean Energy Summit</b><br>
Registration is now open for the 2013 SC Clean Energy Summit, which is being hosted by the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA). The summit will take place July 11, 2013, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. This year's theme: Fueling Innovation and Creating Jobs.<br>
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The summit will bring together clean energy business leaders and representatives from across the Southeast to explore topics including solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy efficiency, clean energy project finance, clean transportation and recycling. Session panelists represent industry, academia, and government institutions, including the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, Santee Cooper, Sonoco, SPARC, SCRA, and others.<br>
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<a href="http://scceba.biz/index.cfm?objectid=B55CDE40-6F08-11E2-BF1C000C29CA3AF3">Online registration and more details about the summit are available online, by clicking here</a>.http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1320429
http://www.scbiomass.org/news/1320429